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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
After a few years of uncertainty about where the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch would be headed, we finally get some answers. A recent report by Beatrice Verhoeven at The Hollywood Reporter states that Maia Kealoha will be joining the project as the young female human lead, Lilo.
This is remarkable news, as a signature quote from the original 2002 film has been, “Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten.” While the voice of the original Lilo was played by Daveigh Chase, to see Kealoha—an actual person of Hawaiian descent—pick up and portray the role of the character is a step in the right direction for the authenticity of what gave Lilo & Stitch its essence as a pure Pacific Island narrative.
Background on Lilo & Stitch
The original film premiered in the summer of 2002 and was written and directed by Chris Sanders (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan) and Dean DeBlois (Mulan). Sanders voiced Stitch in the film as well as its three sequels.
This animated feature centers on a lone Hawaiian child (Lilo Pelekai) on the island of Kaua’i under the custody of her older sister and guardian, Nani Pelekai, following the death of their parents in a car accident. The two sisters adopt a blue koala-like “dog” at a local animal shelter, unbeknownst to both that he is actually an illegal genetic experimentation 626 from outer space. Named “Stitch”, the alien becomes the glue that binds the two sisters closer as family.
The science-fiction comedy-drama animated film was well-received by audiences and critics, so much so that it was Oscar-nominated at the 75th Academy Awards ceremony under the “Best Animated Feature” category.
The Stitch Franchise
The film spawned a franchise that includes two direct-to video sequels (Stitch! The Movie and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch), a television series—Lilo & Stitch: The Series—which aired on ABC and Disney Channel between the two sequels from September 2003 to July 2006, a television film (Leroy & Stitch), and two spin-off anime series, Stitch! for Japan and Stitch & Ai for China.
Sanders and DeBlois then went on to write and direct DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon animated action fantasy trilogy from 2010 to 2019. The former also has directing and screenwriting credits for 2013’s The Croods as well as story credits for its 2020’s sequel, The Croods: A New Age.
Background on the Live-Action Remake
The live-action Lilo & Stitch project has been in development since October of 2018, with reports of a possible release on the Disney+ streaming platform. Several months after such reports, Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Now You See Me 2, Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) was said to have entered pre-production as the director of the film.
There is still currently a search for the character, Nani, who was previously voiced by Filipino-Chinese Hawaiian actress, Tia Carrere (Wayne’s World, True Lies, Duck Dodgers), in the early-to-mid 2000s.
There is still no word on whether the film will release on the streaming service or theatrically.
More Recent News
Dean Fleischer Camp, the filmmaker behind last year’s Oscar-nominated A24 film, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, joined the project as the director in mid-July 2022, replacing Chu. Chu is currently adapting Wicked to the big screen in two parts.
Chris Kekaniokalani Bright (Moana) also joined to pen the screenplay.
Earlier this February, Zach Galifianakis (Puss in Boots, Bob’s Burgers, The Lego Batman Movie, Missing Link, Big Mouth) has been cast in the remake. It has been speculated that he may play Galactic Federation Agent, Wendy Pleakley. In the animated Hawaii-set films and television series, Pleakley was voiced by Kevin McDonald (That ’70s Show, Sky High, Epic Movie).
Dan Lin (Unaccompanied Minors, Terminator Salvation, The Lego Movie, It: Chapter One and Chapter Two, Godzilla vs. Kong) and Jonathan Eirich will serve as the producers along with Ryan Halprin (The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part) as the executive producer on behalf of Rideback.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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Also, you can purchase a Lilo Funko POP! vinyl figure on Amazon!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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